Ch 17 Ouch
168 stitches and second degree burns.
I came to for a moment in Sam's truck on the way to the hospital in Monroe, still cradled in Eric's arms, my feet wrapped in kitchen towels and ice. I took one look at the bloody towels and promptly blacked out again. So I'm squeamish around blood, so sue me.
The next thing I knew I was in an ER cubicle getting sewn up salved. Let me tell you, having burned skin stitched is NOT fun. Sam was in there with me, holding my hand. Even when you're all doped up, you feel it.
"You 'wake, cher?"
"Mostly."
"What happened, hon? You were fine and then you just seemed to blank out, and then you dropped the coffee pot like it was made of kryptonite or something."
"I remembered... something," I whispered. "Where's Eric?"
"Outside in the waiting area. What did you remember, Sook?"
"Would you get him, please?" I begged, unshed tears sparkling on my lashes.
Sam gave me a long look, then sighed and stood to get him. A moment later Eric bobbed his head around the curtain.
"Sam said you asked for me? I'm honored, since you can only have one person back here at a time, " he grinned.
"Eric," I choked. His face instantly fell.
"What is it?"
"I remembered that... that the last cup of coffee I poured was for Bill," I managed to choke out, the tears finally spilling over.
He didn't say anything, he just sat in the chair Sam vacated and held my hands. The intern at my feet practiced his sutures, surreptitiously looking back and forth between us as I cried in silence.
Somehow, it was exactly what I needed.