Author's notes: Reviewers you are so kind to share your thoughts, thank you. Another chapter and another step on their journey.
Even if he'd somewhere else to go he would have still spent the night sleeping in the chair next to Teresa's bed. She'd shooed him away to the cafeteria to get some dinner while they transferred her to a room, otherwise he stayed by her side where they chatted amiably when they weren't dozing. Both their bodies were feeling the effects of the trauma they'd suffered, each with their own aches and pains, so as the lights of the hospital were dimmed and hushed tones prevailed they were soon asleep. Patrick watching over Teresa to make sure she's truly asleep before settling himself as best he can. Luckily he's a pro at sleeping just about anywhere. He wakes up when a nurse enters the room, the beautiful colours of dawn greet him as he looks out the window. The clock in the room tells him it's after six o'clock. He slips his arm out of the sling and stretches his body to work out the kinks gifted him by the chair. The nurse checking on Teresa can't help watching him out of the corner of her eye. He walks over to the window and looks out as the small town comes to life. He turns to the nurse.
"Where are we?"
" Barstow."
"Is there an airport nearby?2
"LA is the nearest airport, there is a small one about fifteen miles away. Barstow-Daggett."
"That's just for small planes right?"
"I believe so."
"Are we going home Patrick?"
Teresa is in the process of sitting up. Patrick rushes to her side and helps her adjust her pillows.
"No I wasn't thinking of Sacramento I had another place in mind. A place where we can recuperate. Your car'ss totalled I'm afraid besides I don't thing that a long car journey would be good for either one of us. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling good. The headache is gone, body aches. How about you."
"Same here."
"You must feel worse having slept in the chair all night."
"I'm like a cat I can sleep anywhere, in any position."
"Hopefully the doctor will be around soon and we can get out of here."
"You know I think you're just as bad a patient as I am."
The nurse interrupts their conversation.
"Everything looks fine. You can get up and take a shower before breakfast."
"That sounds like heaven."
"I'll try to find out where our cases are and what's happened to your car."
"Sounds like a good idea."
Patrick takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.
"I'll be back as quickly as possible."
Images of her lying on the ground so still come back to him, he's suddenly reluctant to leave her side. She seems to read it in his face as she returns his squeeze.
"I'm fine Patrick and so are you, now go find our suitcases because I'm not going anywhere in this hospital gown."
Patrick breaks in to a smile and gives her a hug.
"I thought I was going to lose you."
"I know, I was scared too when the other car hit you, but we live to tell the tale once more."
"We're each other's good luck charms."
"Bring me back a cup of coffee."
"Will do."
Tracking down their belongings and the car takes longer than he anticipated when he's delayed at the police station. While waiting for Teresa's coffee Patrick, completes their travel arrangements and with cup in his restricted hand and pulling her suitcase he enters her room.
"Coffee and clothes as ordered."
"Great I have my marching orders so once I'm dressed we can leave."
"You have to stop at the police station and make a statement, they're typing mine up as we speak."
Teresa alights from the bed and Patrick lifts the bag on to it and she rummages through choosing clothes to wear.
"I'll be outside while you get dressed."
"That's all right just turn around it won't take long."
"Erm I have a phone call to make, so I'll go outside."
"Okay."
Teresa smiles as he closes the door and whispers after him:
"Chicken"
Patrick leans against the door, he believes he's blushing!
"Where did that come from?"
Once dressed Teresa packs away her things and checks she has everything before leaving her room. Patrick's at the nurses station chatting to a blatantly admiring audience. He looks her way as he hears the door close and rushes to her side.
"Let me take that."
"Where's yours?"
"The rest of our belongings are at the Police Station, I couldn't handle everything with this clipped wing."
He waves a hand at the nurses.
"Bye guys and thanks for everything."
Teresa echo's his sentiments before heading to the elevators.
Teresa finds he's had a cab waiting for them and they soon arrive at the police station. It's a slow process giving the statement and waiting while it's typed for signing. It's gone 2pm when she's finally freed. Patrick excused himself about 30mins before and did not return. She asks about their belongings to find that Patrick has taken delivery of them and when she heads outside she finds him leaning against the taxi cab. He holds up some paper bags.
"Lunch."
Teresa gratefully takes her bag and Patrick opens the cab door, we need to hurry our plane leaves in an hour."
"An hour! Where are we going?"
"Malibu"
"Your house?"
Patrick nods as he closes the door and heads to the other side of the cab.