The tension was the only thing that kept Emily and Alison in a trance. However it was broken when Emily recounted her level of trust for Alison and decided to clear her throat. That broke Alison's stare away from her and she looked towards the door. Despite the awkward silence, Emily was the first to speak.
"Are you hungry?" Emily asked.
"Twice in two days Em, I'm starting to think you want to fatten me up," Alison chuckled. "Yes, I'm hungry".
"Good, lets go make some food together," Emily said and got up and grabbed Alison's hand. She felt the electricity flowing between them and immediately her hands started to get sweaty, hoping Alison wouldn't notice. "What do you want to eat?" she asked as they both entered the kitchen.
"Hmm, I'm feeling a little Italian," she replied.
"Are you sure your last name has nothing to do with it," Emily teased knowing Alison was more into her American heritage than anything.
"Shut up!" Alison laughed. "What do you need me to do?"
"Grab some onions, tomatoes, and vegetables out of the fridge," Emily ordered.
"What are we going to make?" Alison asked as she was putting the items on the counter.
"Some pasta, you can never go wrong with pasta," Emily replied as she gathered some spices and bread. "I'm going to make my own sauce and garlic bread, I'm so glad my mom went shopping before she left".
"Em, you're such a good cook!" Alison complimented earning a blush from Emily and she knew she was doing something right.
"Thanks, and you're such a good…hmmm…." Emily said laughing.
"Hey! I'm good at stuff," Alison punched Emily's shoulder teasingly. She didn't notice the wince coming from Emily after the punch as she turned around to retrieve more items.
"I know, Ali you're such a good kisser," Emily teased although showing that it was true as well.
"Now we're talking," Ali responded cockily.
"Slow down Al, wouldn't want to get your hopes up, because we all know I'm the best kisser in the group," Emily said arrogantly and chuckled.
"Oh yeah, and who says?" Ali asked curiously.
"All the girls, it was decided after our game of truth and dare during a sleepover, I ended up kissing all of them. If they weren't straight I'm sure they'd love to have some private make out sessions," Emily replied with a smug smirk on her face trying to see the reaction she'd get from Alison. She got just that when she saw a hint of jealousy flash in her eyes.
"You what?" Alison exclaimed for the first time raising her voice, usually more in control of her emotions.
"I'm just kidding," Emily said and saw Alison let out a sigh. "Well mostly".
"What do you mean mostly?" Alison asked hesitantly.
"Well I did kiss all the girls and they did say I was the best kisser out of all of them, but there will be no make out sessions between us, we're all just friends," Emily said and she turned around to see Alison have an unreadable expression on her face.
"Oh okay," Alison said trying to get in control of her emotions.
"Pass me those vegetables," Emily said trying to ease the tension and decided to get the knife because Alison with at knife at this moment when she wasn't in control of her emotions scared Emily beyond comprehension. She began to cut up the vegetables and started to get lost in though and accidentally cut the entire length of her palm. She let out a cry of pain and dropped the knife and began to walk over to the sink. In a flash she felt Alison beside her turning on the water and bringing her hand underneath the pressure. The cool water stung the wound at first, but the sparks she felt with Alison in close proximity bought her relief.
"Em, where's your first aid kit?" she asked in total control of the situation.
"In the cabinet in the bathroom," Emily replied and Alison was gone and back a minute later. She poured peroxide over the sink and began to dry around the wound. She applied ointment to it wrapped Emily's hand in gauze.
"We need to go to the hospital," she said firmly.
"No it's fine, I'll just keep it wrapped," Emily said.
"No the wound is deep and it can get an infection if not treated properly, plus you'll need medication for the pain," Alison said.
"I don't take pain meds anymore," Emily said and looked away in shame.
"Why not?" Alison asked.
"Because of my problem with alcohol. If I don't get my hands on alcohol, I use pain pills as a substitute. IT looks like Spencer isn't the only one with a pill problem," she said still not able to look Alison in the eyes.
"Em look at me," Alison said bringing Emily to face her. "It's okay to admit you have a problem. I will explain to the doctor about the pills, but your hand needs to be stitched up". She said in a tone that told Emily there was no room for arguing. Instead she got up and continued to cook the meal, which only need the vegetables to be thrown in. Once she was done she grabbed her car keys and drove with Alison to the hospital. Due to it being a weekday, the hospital was relatively empty in the emergency room. She went through the fast track line and was placed in a room divided by curtains. Alison sat beside her while she sat on the bed waiting for the doctor.
"Hello, my name is Dr. Robini, what seems to be the problem?" he asked entering the room.
"I cut my hand slicing vegetables," Emily stated while pushing hand towards him. Although she'd never admit it, her hand was throbbing and she wanted the pills to help, but knew the ramifications if she were to ever go down that road again. The doctor began to unravel the gauze wrap and winced at the wound.
"Well whoever wrapped this has serious skill," he said trying to make light of the situation. "The wound is pretty deep. I would stitch you up, but I see some places where nerves could have been nicked, so I think we should do an x-ray."
"What does that mean?" Emily asked nervous.
"It means the wound appears to be serious, but we won't know anything until I get the x-ray results. Try and relax, the nurses will be in here to get you, why don't you change in to a gown. Remember no bra if it has a wire in it. I'll be back later tonight with the results." With his exit, Emily threw a nervous glance at Alison who comforted her by squeezing her good right hand.
"Do you need help getting undressed," Alison asked.
"No I should be fine," Emily said quickly, slightly embarrassed at the thought of Alison seeing her half naked.
"Do you want me to go outside?" Alison asked hesitantly.
"Please," Emily through a grateful glance her way and Alison stood to exit and pulled back the curtains. Once she was out of the room, Emily tried unbuttoning her shirt, but her hand was throbbing and shaking and could barely close partially from the swelling and she gave a frustrated sigh thinking of how stupid she was to wear a button down shirt. "Alison could you help me". On the outside Alison smirked at how long that took...20 seconds. She entered the room and closed the curtains. She took the buttons in her hands and had her shirt off in less than a minute. She reached for Emily's pants and unbuttoned them, but felt goose bumps form on Emily's stomach after the back of her hand touched her abs. She smirked at the effect she had on the girl but decided to focus on the task at hand. Emily placed her hands on her shoulders as she slid the pants down to her ankles and slipped her feet through the holes. There, Emily stood in her underwear anxious, and Alison noticed Emily was in fact wearing a wired bra. She reached behind Emily and unhooked the bra allowing it to drop down to their feet. Emily suddenly felt self-conscious in front of Alison and tried to back away cover herself with her arms, but Alison grabbed her arms to move them away as she look Emily up and down. "You are beautiful Em, don't hide, especially not around me". With that Alison turned around and grabbed the gown wrapped in plastic. She tore through the plastic and opened the gown for Emily to put her arms through. She turned Emily around and tied the gown in the back. A nurse entering the room with a wheelchair interrupted the silence filling the room with Emily's back facing Alison.
"Hello, I'm Nurse Jackie, not from the TV show, I get that all the time," she said with glee in her voice. At the joke Emily laughed and Alison frowned due to her not being able to watch much television from her time on the run. "I'm here to take Emily Fields, who I suppose is you since you have the gown on". Emily sat in the wheelchair with her injured hand in her lap which was really swollen Alison observed.
"You can wait here, I'll take good care of you fiancé," the nurse smirked and winked at Alison who blushed and Emily was about to correct her when Alison interrupted.
"Thank you, do you know how long it will take?" she asked giving Emily a look to not contradict the lie she just went with.
"It should take about thirty minutes," the nurse replied and left to take a shocked Emily to get x-rays. They came across a corridor and soon they entered a door on the left. Once inside Emily noticed the machine and the glass separating what she assumed to be computers and other nurses. The nurse got her comfortable on the table and told her to try and relax. Alison was waiting nervously in the room for Emily to return. Her foot began to tap which she recognized as a nervous habit she developed on the run. She placed a hand on her leg to control it and got out her phone to tell the girls what happened. She opened a group message. To Hanna, Spencer, and Aria: At the hospital with Emily. Seconds later there was a reply from all three.
Hanna: Too much sex?
Spencer: What happened?
Aria: Is she okay?
Of course Hanna lacked tact at any time during the day.
Alison: No Hanna. She sliced her hand making us dinner; they're taking her for an x-ray because the doctor suspects she hit a few nerves.
Spencer: Poor Ems! Want us to come there?
Aria: Oh no! She's really having the worst day!
Hanna: You can always cheer her up with sex.
Alison rolled her eyes at Hanna's suggestion albeit not a bad on.
Spencer: Hanna stop it!
Hanna: What? We all know how shy Emily isn't about sex.
That caused Alison to raise her eyebrows.
Alison: No need to come, I don't want to overwhelm her. And what are you talking about Hanna?
Aria & Spencer: Okay, let us know what the doctor says though.
Hanna: Emily is a total freak in the sheets, you'll find out soon enough.
The last message caused Alison to let out a low laugh.
Alison: Of course. I'm sure I will Hanna. Got to go she's coming back from the x-ray.
Alison smiled thankful for her friends distracting her, especially Hanna with her lack of a filter. When Emily entered the room, her hand looked worse than it did before she left, and she looked a little tired. Alison helped her get onto the hospital bed and put the sheets over her.
"Get some rest, I will wake you up when the doctor comes," Alison suggested. Emily who had no arguments fell into an easy slumber. About an hour and a coffee later, Alison saw the doctor making his way into the room and began to shake Emily.
"Hello Ms. Fields," the doctor said in a monotone voice.
"Hello, do you know what's wrong with my hand?" she asked.
"As I suspected, you did puncture a few nerves in your hands, but they can be fixed with surgery thankfully. I also noticed that you tore your rotator cuff," he stated. Emily looked in fear at the mention of surgery.
"Surgery?" Emily said in a voice Alison didn't recognize.
"Yes it's a minor procedure that will hopefully give you full range of motion".
"Yes I did tear my rotator cuff," she said looking down angry at the thought of it.
"You want to tell me how?" the doctor asked.
"I fell on it," she answered vaguely.
"I see," he answered while moving to the wall and put up x-ray shots of her hand and shoulder. "Are you an athlete?"
"Yes, I swim, or I used to. I've tried physical therapy, but the pain is unbearable. I can't take pain meds for it because I can't count or judge the distance."
"I can fix it. You see this tissue right here. That's new muscle. I'd have to remove it. I will be re-tearing your rotator cuff because it didn't heal properly. I think you took too long going to the doctor. Anyways, the bone and tendon didn't heal back the way it should, which can explain the pain. I also see bone fragments, which need to be removed. We won't know how exactly to fix it until I have it in front of me, but I promise you, I can fix it".
"Will I be able to swim again," Emily asks with hope in her voice.
"Yes you will, it will be painful and strenuous but you will be able to again," he says confidently.
"With you hand, I need to reattach the nerves together and there's a few nerves that have detached from the bones".
"What's recovery time?" Alison asks.
"For the rotator cuff, it needs to be immobilized for 4-6 weeks, then after that you will begin passive exercises, at 8-12 weeks, you'll begin active exercises. From months 4-6 after surgery, you'll gain full range of motion. As for your hand, since these are nerves, we won't know. I have to use conduits since the gap between your nerves is small which gives you a better chance. After surgery, your hand will be immobilized in a splint and it will be removed after the fourth week. You will then begin physical therapy. Since you're 18, you don't need parental consent to get the surgeries, but the sooner the better. I'll leave you two alone".
"So are you going to get the surgeries?" Alison asked.
"Yeah I think so. I really thought I couldn't swim anymore and now this doctor gives me hope," she replied with a smile on her face.
"Do you want me to call your parents?" Alison asked.
"Yeah that'd be great," Emily said thankfully. "I don't want them to come here though. Tell them to enjoy themselves, and that I have someone to take care of me".
"Okay, I'll get the doctor back in here," Alison replied leaving the room and seeing the doctor. "She's decided that she wants both surgeries".
"Okay great. I will schedule them for tomorrow. For right now, she'll be transferred to a private room," he replied writing down information on his chart leaving Alison and going inside the room to talk to Emily some more. She pulled out her phone to call Emily's mom.
"Hello?" a voice asked.
"Hi, Mrs. Fields, this is Alison," she said nervously.
"Hi Alison, why are you calling so late?" Pam asked noting that it was 2 am in Rosewood.
"Uh, Emily had an accident. She was cooking for us and she sliced her hand. We're at the hospital. The doctor suggested surgery for her hand, and found a way to fix her shoulder so she'd be able to swim again. I could give the doctor your number so he could explain better than me," Alison rushed without breathing.
"Oh my baby, I'm coming home," Pam said in an anxiety fit.
"Mrs. Fields, she said to enjoy. I will be able to take care of her until you get home. I will have her call you before and after surgery. I will send you updates as I give them. She's being moved to a private room. She won't be alone, I'll be there".
"That's my Emmy, always looking out for other people," she choked through the phone. "How are you able to stay there?"
"Well the hospital may have assumed that I'm her fiancé," Alison said fast.
"I see," Pam chuckled.
"I'm sorry for lying, I just didn't want them to kick me out and you know how…" Alison ranted but was interrupted by Pam's laughs and what she assumed were Mr. Field's laughs as well.
"Oh Alison, we know how in love my daughter is with you. It's quite all right; you guys look more like a married couple than as friends. I'm glad she has you there with her. Please have her call me before and after surgery, and thank you for taking care of my Emmy," Pam responds.
"Thank you Mrs. Fields," she says sheepishly feeling a blush. "I should go before they move her, bye".
"Bye Alison," Mr. and Mrs. Fields say. With that she walks back into the room to see Emily fading into sleep. An hour later nurses come to put Emily on a hospital bed and tell Alison to follow them to her new room. They take an elevator to the 7th floor of the orthopedic wing. They're situated in a relatively large room. Emily who's already in a deep sleep is inserted with an IV. They begin to wrap her hand and hook up a morphine drip to the IV. Alison stands by while they continue to work on her. Once they exit the room, Alison sees a chair next to the bed and takes her place. She texts the girls with an update explaining the situation and they said they'd come by to see Emily in the morning before surgery. Alison tried to get comfortable in the chair, but her worrying didn't allow for much sleep. Next thing she knew Emily was awake.
"Sorry did I wake you?" Alison asked.
"Sort of, do you want to lay with me?" she asked.
"I don't want to hurt you," Alison said and tried getting comfortable in the chair again.
"You won't, besides I have morphine to help," she smiled and Alison knew she was partially out of it with glazed over eyes, but with the chair rearing it ugly head in her back she got up and laid down on Emily's right side and Emily pulled her head onto her chest. They both slept comfortably throughout the night, realizing how perfect their bodies were for each other. Alison despite her worries was able to sleep listening to Emily's heartbeat.