Ken immediately picked Madison's foot, briskly walking her to the hood of Jeff's car, resting her bottom there, as Jeff grabbed Madison's foot, pulling up the pant leg, to expose Madison's blood soaked sock, and leg. Madison's just getting sight of it for the first time, panic striking her through her veins as she exclaimed "Oh God." Ken holding her as still as he can. Jeff turning to Beth "We need to get her to the ER." Ken lifted Madison easily, Jeff and Beth in the front seat, Ken, Shannon and Madison in the back. Madison lying across Ken and Shannon, Ken holding her upper body as much as possible, while Shannon kept the small handkerchief he had found, wrapped tightly around the gash, trying to stop the bleeding somewhat. Madison was panicked for many obvious reasons, she was in pain, she was bleeding, those are both good reasons, but the fact she had never been in a hospital was scaring her even more. Her whole life she was either patched up by her brother, or some midwife that her brother trusted, and honestly she just wanted her brother.
Arriving at the ER, Ken scooping her up in his arms, Shannon still holding the rag right around her ankle, as they hurried into the clinic, Jeff and Beth right behind them. Rushing into the clinic, the nurse immediately escorted them back, Ken placing Madison on the hospital bed, while a couple nurses busied the materials and instruments. Madison saw the different instruments and panic went into overload as she screamed loudly, the scream echoing through the hallways. Madison fought to get off the hospital bed, "Get me out of here!" she screamed , hobbling as fast as she could to the door, numerous nurses chasing after her, Ken grabbing her before she reached the exit, his arms snaking around her body. Madison trying to pull herself free, as she continued to scream "Let me go!" tears pouring down her face, as Ken held her body against his, as he tried to calm her. Slowly helping her back to the bed, Madison repeating aloud "I don't like this…" over and over again. Ken did his best to comfort and calm her, pushing Madison to lay down on the small hospital bed, Ken leaned over her upper body, tears falling from Madison's eyes when she spoke with a shaky voice "Ken, I don't like this…" Ken stood by the small bed, brushing the hair off of Madison's face with his fingers, the nurses and doctors preparing. Ken spoke to Madison "I know people don't like hospitals, but you're down right scared of them!" Ken spoke smiling, Madison answered honestly "I've never been to one…" Ken's eyes growing wide, as he asked "How can you never have gone to a hospital before?" Madison simply shrugged, her eyes following the nurse that walked across the room.
Ken was about to speak when the doctor approached him "Sir, we have to ask you to leave." Ken turned and saw 2 male nurses approaching with leather restraints in their hands, Ken suddenly got defensive "No way! You're not putting those on my girl!" he spoke angrily, turning his attention to the doctor "I'll keep her still, so do your thing." The doctor eyeing him for a moment before speaking loudly "Nurse, let's prep" as Ken placed his hands on Madison's shoulders. Madison lifted her head, trying to watch the nurses, when Ken spoke "Madison look at me, I want to you look at this handsome face." Madison nodded, as she the doctor's begun.
Three hours later, Madison sat in the car with Beth, Jeff, Ken and Shannon, headed back to Jeff and Beth's house. The 13 new stitches still stinging, the fresh gauze wrapped around her ankle, as she experimentally moved her foot to see if it hurt. She kicked herself mentally for getting hurt, all she could do was think of how mad Kevin was gonna be, unless she could not tell him. Her mind thought of ways to hide the injury, the bumpy dirt road bringing het out of her thoughts.
Pulling into Jeff and Beth's driveway, Madison walked to the door, Ken insisting on helping her walk, as they got inside, Madison plopped down on the couch. Ken sat next to her, as Jeff and Beth sat on the other couch. Madison took a deep breath, taking the moment of silence as her chance, when she spoke "Look, can we not tell Kevin about this?" She asked, looking at the faces of her friends. Ken smiled, pulling her injured foot onto his lap, holding it still, as he spoke "No worries here, babe." Madison looked over to Jeff who answered "I am not gonna be the one to tell him you got hurt!" Jeff said, raising his arms in a 'not me' fashion. Madison looking over to Beth who appeared worrisome, Beth spoke "Madison, don't you think it would be better to just tell him? You know how protective he is…" Madison spoke protectively "You can't! He'll flip out! Please don't tell him!" and as if it was meant to be, right at that moment Beth's phone rang.
Glancing down at the screen, Beth's eyes grew wide as she saw Kevin's name appear. Beth picked up the phone "Hey Beth, is May-May around? I tried her phone but didn't answer." Kevin asked calmly. Beth swallowed hard before responding "She's right here, her phone must be on silent or something." Beth spoke, trying to sound convincing. 'Well how is she doing up there?" Kevin asked relaxed, as Beth's eyes grew wide, before quickly responding "Here's your sister!" practically throwing her cell phone at Madison. Madison quickly got on the line "Bubba!" Kevin's smile evident in his voice, when he spoke "How are you doing out there?" Madison swallowed hard before answering 'I'm Fine…Everything's fine…" Madison's eyes darting to the three pairs of eyes staring at her. "You don't miss me at all huh?' Kevin teased as Madison laughed "Of course I miss you Bubba!" Madison's eyes jumping from person to person as Kevin told her about his day. "So what'd you do today, May-May?" Kevin asked innocently. Madison's mind raced as she stammered "Uh…Uh…Jeff and Beth took me 4 wheeling, but…" Madison added "I didn't ride those things, they're dangerous!" Madison could hear Kevin take a sigh of relief, before he responded "Good! Well I have to go, Love you May-May!" Madison quickly responded "Love you too Bubba!" hanging up the phone, breathing a sigh of relief as she handed the phone back to Beth.
Silence filled the room for moment, before Jeff spoke "I'm hungry…let's go eat!" before he jumped to his feet, hurrying towards the kitchen, the two puppies scurrying behind happily. "I'm not too hungry, I think I'll just stay here." Madison spoke up, Beth turned "You sure?" Madison nodded her head as Ken spoke "Yeah, me too. We'll just stay in tonight, but bring us back some food!" Ken said smiling, as he wrapped his arm around Madison's shoulders. Jeff walking back into the room, fussing with his hat as he spoke "You sure? It's good food…plenty of beer…" Madison chuckled slightly as she turned to Ken "You can go…I don't mind…" Ken pulled her tighter to him before answering "Nah, why would I do that? Plus someone has to be your doctor and change that dressing for you!" he answered smug. Jeff quickly responding "Ok, let's get out of here, before these two make me lose my appetite!" he said grabbing Beth and practically pulling her out of the house.
With Beth and Jeff gone, the house was quiet, Madison's mind was running wild though. She thought about how dumb she was for getting hurt, how childish this whole thing was. Madison ran her hand through her hair before sighing, then spoke "I can't believe I let myself get hurt! I'm so stupid!" Ken turned to her a slight smile on his lips "Things happen…trust me, injuries happen" Madison rolled her eyes, before retorting "Not like this, I mean the one time I get away from my brother and I get hurt? I honestly don't know why you even like me!" Madison felt bad for even saying that, she saw the hurt expression on Ken's face, just as she was about to say something Ken's expression changed, Ken's hurt expression changed to a smile, as he spoke "Well first, I like the way you blush" Ken smiled wide as he stood from the couch, holding his hands out for Madison's. She stood with him, but stubbornly forced herself to walk without help, trailing behind him. Ken turned so he was walking backwards, leading her towards his guestroom, as he continued "I like you." He said finally, as his back rested against the door of the guestroom. He pulled Madison into his arms "And there is nothing you could do that would change that! Even if you got hurt dancing to Vanilla Ice in your bedroom and slipped on a dirty sock!" Madison eyed Ken suspiciously, as she held back giggles. "What?" Ken asked innocently, as Madison spoke "That's pretty specific there…" Ken sheepishly smiled as he turned to open the door "Shut Up…" Madison couldn't hold back laugher anymore, as she walked by Ken into his guestroom, finally turning and sitting on the edge of the bed, Madison spoke calmly 'So I guess a rendition of Ice Ice Baby would be out of the question?"