Alicia stared. "No, no, no," she muttered over and over again. She sunk back into the pillows, the throbbing in her head and side steadily growing worse. She massaged her temples. "I need to get out of here. Fresh air, food, something, anything." She looked over to Alex. "Are you off duty?" As he nodded, she asked, "Then why are you still here?" She was very apprehensive of the man.
"I wanted to make sure you were ok and that the nurses were taking good care of you." He smiled, trying to ease her tension. "I know you are a very particular patient. Besides, I don't have anywhere to be until my normal sleep schedule, which isn't until after lunch." He pressed the button beside her bed. "Let's see if I can't make at least two of your requests possible." As the nurse came in, Alex flourished. "Ah, Jacqueline, my fine friend. What would be on the breakfast menu for this charming lass?"
"Hitting on patients again, are you Alex?" Jacqueline shook her head and turned her attention to Alicia. "Anything you'd like, provided we have it."
"A cup of fruit will be fine, and maybe a waffle?" She asked, hopeful.
The nurse nodded and left to grant her wish, and Alicia looked up at Alec. "You are hitting on me in my vulnerable state."
Alex held up his hands in defense. "Not at all! I swear. You'll know when I'm hitting on you. And that's the truth, not a pick up line," he added quickly. Alicia smiled slightly. It only stayed for a second, but it was what he had been hoping for.
"Come on. Let's go see how your brothers are doing." He grabbed a wheelchair from behind a curtain and unfolded it. He lifted her carefully into the chair, only to smirk and add, "Or would you prefer to be carried?"
Alicia stuck out her tongue at him as he started to roll her down the hall to Joe's recovery room. Alicia held her breath as she was rolled into the room.
Fenton Hardy looked up and smiled lightly. "Hey, sweetheart. How are you doing?" He was aware of his daughter's hot temper, though she often was quite calm, and was sure no matter what he said, she would be set off by it.
Sure enough, after glancing at her brother, laying there, sleeping peacefully, she spoke in a choke back voice. "I'd be better if everyone would stop acting like I'm the one dying and… And…"
"And you know that you are hurt and that your brothers will be fine. In fact, the poison that man slipped into Frank's of IV wasn't very potent." Fenton stepped up to get his daughter and gave her a hug. He looked up at Alex and gave him a nod. "Thanks for bringing her; I'll take it from here." He said, standing back up.
"No problem, Mr. Hardy. If you need anything," he said turning to Alicia, "This is my personal phone number. And yes," he whispered as he slipped her the paper, "You can count that as hitting on you. But I really do hope you call if you need anything." With that and a wink, he left.
"Well, that was bold." Fenton exclaimed, surprised. "Doing that in front of your father and older brother: he is asking for it."
Alicia looked at the slip of paper and slipped it into her pocket. "Nah, Joe would be proud, saying something about the Hardy charm at work, or how he taught me well, or…" She looked over at Joe's peaceful sleeping figure, a sad look on her face. "He will wake up, right? Coma just means that he hasn't woken up or responded in six hours, but that's not that long, right?"
Fenton put a hand on her shoulder. "It will be alright. He is a Hardy boy."
"Where is Mom?"
"I sent her home with Gertrude. She was sick with worry, so Gertrude is making sure she rests." Alicia nodded and started to cry.
"Daddy, why won't he wake up? Doesn't he know we still need him?" Fenton wrapped his arms around his daughter, holding her tenderly as she cried into his shoulder. "It's my fault he's here. It was my lead, my call, m-my bullet… "
"No, Alicia, no," her father scolded gently. "The only person who is at fault is the person who pulled the trigger. And we'll catch whoever is responsible." He lifted her chin to look at her, then said, softly, but stern, "We will catch them, Alicia."
Alicia nodded and swallowed, looking over at Joe. If only we were as sure about Joe waking up…