Dixie and Jon were awakened three hours later by her phone. She grumbled and fished it out of her purse. She saw it was the hospital and wondered why they would be calling her so late. She sleepily answered. "Hello?"
"Yes, is this Dixie Matthews?"
"Yes, it is."
"Ms. Matthews, this is Darla from Genesis Medical Center ER. We have a Colby Lopez that was brought in. We found a card in his wallet that listed you as his emergency contact."
Dixie was now fully awake upon hearing that. "Oh my God! Is he okay? What happened?" Jon heard her reaction and sat up, wondering what was going on.
"I really can't tell you much because of HIPAA, but he is stable," the nurse replied.
"Okay, I will be down there as soon as I can." Dixie hung up and Jon was looking at her with concern.
"What is the matter?"
Dixie shot out of bed and starting gathering up her clothes, quickly pulling them on. "Colby is in the ER. The nurse wouldn't tell me what was going on. I have to get down there."
He couldn't help but feel jealous that she was so worried, but he was also concerned for Colby. "Babe, I am sure he is okay. You going to be okay to drive or you want me to drive you?"
"I will be fine. Besides, I don't think Colby would want you there. I am going to go see what the hell is going on and I will call you tomorrow, baby."
"Alright. Let me know how he is when you find out."
Dixie leaned down to kiss him softly. "I will."
She grabbed her purse and left, hunting for her keys as she walked down to her car. Between her nap and being scared when she awoke, she had sobered up. As she drove across town to the hospital, every worst-case scenario was running through her mind. She thought back to how messed up the last two weeks had been. She was terrified that something was horribly wrong with him and prayed that it wasn't. She started to think of all the things she wanted to say and worried that she would never have the chance. She told herself to calm down and stop jumping to conclusions.
Once she parked, she ran to the ER entrance. She walked up to the front desk and spoke to the clerk. "Hello, I am here to see Colby Lopez. Darla called me?"
"Oh, of course. Let me tell her and see if you can come back." She called to the nurses' desk and asked permission for Dixie to be buzzed in. When she hung up, she nodded, "she said okay. Go on back." She pressed the button and the bay door opened.
"Thank you," Dixie replied as she stepped through.
She saw the nurses and asked what room he was in. Darla overheard her and came up to greet her. "Ms. Matthews, I am Darla. Mr. Lopez is in here in the trauma bay. He was in a motor vehicle crash. He wasn't conscious when they brought him in. The airbag deployed but the paramedic said he apparently hit his head on the passenger's side window hard enough to break it. We are waiting on the x-rays to see if anything is broken before we try to move him. The doctor said his alcohol level is high and may be why he hasn't woken up yet." She motioned with her hand and Dixie followed her into the trauma room. Darla pulled back the curtain and Dixie saw him lying on the gurney, hooked up to the monitor with a cervical collar immobilizing his head and neck. She saw the bruises to his face and gasped. "Oh, Colby." She reached out and stroked his cheek, feeling tears beginning to burn her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but do you know how we can get in touch with his family? We believe the driver of the car is related to him. His cell phone was smashed in the console from what the police told us."
"Yes, I have their numbers. What was the driver's name and I can tell you."
"I can't say."
"Oh, right. Yeah. HIPAA. Okay, well his brother's name is Brandon Lopez if that helps."
The nurse nodded. "Thank you." Dixie took out her phone and gave Darla the number to Colby's parents, Kathy and Alex. She walked away and left her alone with Colby. Dixie sat down in the chair next to the stretcher and gently played with his fingers. She whispered, "I love you, baby, please wake up. You have to." She took her phone back out and sent a text to Joe and Jon both, telling them that Colby had been in a wreck and was still unconscious. She turned her attention back to him, softly speaking to him, urging him to open his eyes. She could smell booze on him and prayed it was just the alcohol that was keeping him from waking up.
Her phone started to play Pedestal by Fergie, Joe's ringtone, and she jumped. It apparently jolted Colby awake too. He woke up and tried to move, panicking that he was tied down. Dixie cupped his head and tried to console him. "Colby, you're okay. You can't move just yet. Just calm down, okay. I will get the nurse."
"No, don't leave me," he begged with his speech slurring.
"Baby, I have to." Before Dixie could wrench her hand away from him, the nurses heard the commotion and came to check on him. They asked her to step back while they assessed his level of consciousness. A few minutes later, the doctor came in to tell them the results of the tests. "Mr. Lopez, you are very lucky that there is nothing broken. Your head CT came back normal as well but your alcohol level is pretty high. How do you feel?"
"I have a headache and I am sore all over."
"That is understandable. What is the last thing you remember?"
"Me, my brother and a friend from high school were in the car. They were driving me back home. I don't really remember anything else. How is my brother?"
"He is in surgery right now. We called your parents and they are in the waiting room."
"Surgery? What for?"
"I'm sorry but I really can't get into that. We will let you know as soon as we can. Now, if you want one of your parents to come back, your girlfriend will have to go out. You can only have one visitor at a time."
"No. I don't want her to go. She stays. Tell them I am okay."
"Sure thing. The nurses are going to move you off the backboard and you can take the collar off."
"Thanks." They unstrapped him from the board and took the immobilizer off his neck. He sat back down on the gurney and Dixie propped him up with a pillow and covered him with a blanket. She sat down beside him and softly wrapped her hands around his. She kissed the back of his hand and gently smiled at him. "I am so glad you are okay. You scared the shit out of me."
"I'm fine, Dix. I am glad you are here with me. How did they get a hold of you?"
"That card I made you put in your wallet," she said, lightly smiling at him.
"Oh." He said with a nod. "Guess it was a good idea after all."
"So you don't remember the accident?"
"No, I don't. The last thing I remember is leaving Mac's."
She had to ask him what was on her mind. "Col, was Brandon drunk too?"
He sighed. "We had all been drinking. He said he wasn't too far gone to drive."
"My God, Colby! Why would you ever get in the car with someone who had been drinking?!"
"Baby, shhhh, my head. I'm sorry. I know, okay. Please don't yell at me."
Dixie groaned and took a deep breath. She stood up and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry. Just don't ever scare me like this again."
"I won't."
She brushed his hair back and noticed the dried blood. "You look like hell."
He curled his lip at her, "thanks, mama."
"You're still gorgeous, but you look like you have been through a death match."
"I bet you never thought you would have to see me like that again, huh?" he asked, trying to make her laugh.
"Not funny, Colby."
"You're right. Sorry. Trying to lighten the mood. I wish they would tell me what the hell is going on with my brother though. Why is he in surgery?"
"I don't know. They wouldn't even tell me he was the one driving. I guessed though and gave them your folks' number. I am sure they didn't want to hear from me so I didn't call them. Colby, your mom is probably freaking out. You need to let her come back."
"I am sure they told her I am okay."
"Yeah, but you know she needs to see for herself that you are okay. Let me go get her, alright?"
"NO!" Colby grabbed her hand and wouldn't let her leave. "Don't go."
"Okay, okay, baby. I won't." She wondered why he had gotten so clingy all of a sudden. She knew the accident scared him, but it wasn't like Colby to act this way. She started thinking that maybe he was afraid if she left, that she wouldn't come back. "Just lay back and rest, baby. I am not going anywhere." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, just happy that she was there for him.
Back at the hotel, Jon was hoping Colby was okay, but not happy that she went running to him again. He was getting frustrated that Dixie was still so wrapped up in him. He hated himself for being so selfish, but he wanted her to be with him and forget all about her ex once and for all.
After Dixie didn't answer his call, Joe broke down to call Jon, his concern for Colby trumping his anger. Jon picked up the phone, figuring that was why Joe would be calling in the middle of the night.
"Hey."
"Hey. How is Colby?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
"Aren't you with him?"
"Man, why the hell would I be at the hospital with them? He sure as fuck doesn't want to see me."
"He is our partner."
"Yeah, well he is also the mother fucker trying to steal the woman I love."
"That is fucking bullshit! You got some nerve saying that after you stole her away first."
"Yeah and you have some fucking nerve to be upset after Colby and…"
"SHUT the fuck up, Jon."
"Fine. But you know it is going to come out eventually. You can't protect him forever, Papa Bear."
"Asshole. Is that how you plan on winning her back? By telling her all this shit about Colby? You would do that to us, and to her?"
"I love her, man. So yeah."
"Fuck you," Joe spat.
"Right back at you, bro." Jon hung up the phone and lay back down in the bed. He wondered if Colby would be man enough to tell her the truth or if he would actually have to reveal his deep, dark secret. He silently hoped it wouldn't come to that, but he was afraid that it would.
After another hour of waiting, the ER doctor came back to see how Colby was doing. "I feel okay. I just want to go home."
"Well, we were going to keep you for the night for observation…"
"No, please. I am okay. I just want to go back home. I have a plane to catch tomorrow."
"Mr. Lopez, you took a serious blow to the head from which you have a mild concussion. I would highly recommend that you stay home and recuperate."
"I can't. Look, I work for WWE and we have staff doctors. I will check in with them and let them evaluate me before I get in the ring, but I can't miss the shows."
The doctor sighed and looked warily at him. Finally, he acquiesced. "Okay, I will release you, but you make sure you follow up with your doctor. We heard that your brother is okay, by the way. He is out of surgery and doing fine. They are going to move him to a room soon."
"Thanks, man."
"Let me go sign your discharge papers and the nurse will come let you go if you want to go ahead and get dressed."
Colby nodded and moved to the side of the bed. Dixie picked up his clothes from under the stretcher and took them out of the bag. "These are bloody."
"It's okay. I won't have to wear them long. Just to go see Brandon and for the ride home." She took the hospital gown off of him and helped him put his pants on. She noticed the bruises, burns and abrasions from the seat belt across his chest and he looked down to see what she was staring at. He didn't realize it had left such marks on him. He took her hand and pressed it to the contusion. "It doesn't hurt."
She gazed up at his banged up face and felt her eyes tearing up again. Colby stood up and pulled her into his arms. She rubbed her hands across his back and shoulders and murmured against his neck. "I hate seeing you hurt."
"I know, you always have. I am okay, baby. Don't cry." She composed herself and slipped free from his embrace. She handed him his shirt to put on about the time Darla came back with his paperwork. She gave him his instructions and had him sign before releasing him. "Keep an eye on him."
Dixie nodded. "I will." She stuffed his papers into her purse and held on to his arm, supporting him as they walked out to the waiting room. His parents jumped up when they saw him, and his mom touched his bruised cheek before hugging him tentatively.
"Colby, my God, are you okay?"
"Yes, mom, I am fine. How is Brandon?"
"He is doing okay. We were waiting on them to tell us his room number before we went up. They had to do surgery on his leg to fix the break." His mom looked over at Dixie with scorn. "Dixie."
"Kathy." Dixie replied with the same derision in her voice that his mother did.
"Thank you for coming down here and for giving the nurse our number for Brandon, but you can go now. We will take Colby home. I am sure you have somewhere else to be."
"Yeah, I guess I should be…"
Colby grabbed her hand and stopped her midsentence. "Mom, Dixie is taking me home after we go see Brandon. She isn't going anywhere."
Kathy was surprised when she found out Dixie had come to the hospital to see Colby and even more surprised that her son wanted her with him instead of his own parents. She was very taken aback by the protective tone Colby took with them over his ex-girlfriend. She looked up at her husband and he was just as shocked as she was. "Okay, son. Whatever you say."
A few moments later, the clerk came out and told them that Brandon had been moved up to the orthopedic floor. Dixie told her that she worked there and she knew where it was. Colby and Dixie went ahead with him pressing his hand to her back as they walked. She felt out of place being there with his family, but Colby wanted her with him and she couldn't bring herself to leave him. She led them up the elevator to the sixth floor where Brandon's room was. They were getting him settled in bed, hooking up his IV and setting up the traction on his leg. Once they were done, they let his family in the room.
Brandon looked pretty beat up too and was groggy from the anesthesia. Kathy hugged him and kissed his forehead before he saw Colby. He reached his hand out for his brother and Colby took it, stepping closer. "I am sorry, little bro. I am so relieved you are okay. I was so scared when you didn't move or hear me calling you. They wouldn't tell me how you were before I went into surgery. I am sorry, Col."
"It's okay, man."
His dad spoke up. "No it's not. What the hell were you thinking, mijo? You could have gotten yourself and your brother killed, along with Chris. You have done some irresponsible things in your life, but ay Dios mio, this takes the cake."
"Dad, don't yell at him. It's my fault for insisting on him going drinking with me."
"No, Colby. He is right. I should have never gotten behind the wheel after drinking. No matter what." He looked over and saw Dixie standing by the door, quickly feeling his anger rise. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I….well, they called…"
"The ER called her for me. You know what, I am glad you are good, bro but I think we are going to go. I want to go home. I will call you tomorrow. Get some rest."
"Mijo, you don't have to go."
"Yeah, I think I do." He kissed his mom on the cheek and hugged his father and brother. "I love you guys, but I want to go home. See you later." Dixie ducked her head and turned away as Colby took her hand, pulling her down the hallway.
Dixie stopped. "Colby, your family is right."
"Babe, I just want to go home and spend a little time with the woman I love before I leave. I love you; I still love you, and that hasn't changed. Now come on, let's go to the house."
They walked to the car and Dixie drove them home. She turned off the alarm and they both headed up the stairs. Colby peeled off his bloody clothes and went into the bathroom. He stared at his face in the mirror, not thinking it was as bad as it actually was until he saw it. "I do look like hell."
"It may be a little better once you take a shower and wash all the blood off," Dixie replied, getting undressed as well.
"Yeah, maybe. Mama, can you come here and help me get this glass out of my hair. They got some of it at the hospital but I don't think they got it all."
Dixie pulled on her nightgown and joined him in the bathroom, trying to ignore the fact that he was standing there naked in all his glory. "Yeah. Sit down." She started picking through his hair, removing small shards of glass from his curls. "If there is any more, they should wash out, just be careful that you don't cut your fingers."
"I will." Dixie leaned over the tub and turned on the water, adjusting the temperature for him. He could see under her gown and it was turning him on. He looked up at the ceiling, trying for it not to be obvious that she was having an effect on his body.
"Okay, all ready for you to get in. I will be in the bedroom if you need me."
Colby stepped into the tub and hissed when the hot water hit the burns on his chest from the seat belt. He stood under the spray and let it wash over his aching body. As the stream rained down on his head, he saw red-tinged water going down the drain. He thought about the events of the night, and realized how lucky he was. He was glad that Dixie was there for him when he needed her and felt almost as close to her as he once did. His mind drifted to her, the outfit she had been wearing that was so sexy, and the silk nightgown she had on that barely covered her thighs, and he felt his body getting hotter than the water. He was horny as hell as well, having been two weeks since he had sex and the heavy petting they did had left him unfulfilled and wanting. He decided that he would take care of his now rock-hard manhood while he was shower, figuring she wouldn't be willing to take care of it for him.
He closed his eyes and wrapped his hand around his cock, a picture of her on her knees for him clear in his mind. He tried to suppress his moaning, not wanting to get caught jacking off in the shower like a teenager, especially not by Dixie. He stroked harder and faster, his belly tightening as his imagination ran wild. His knees went weak and buckled, making him fall back against the wall and groan as he kept himself from falling. Dixie heard the smack of his skin against the tile and rushed into the bathroom. "Colby! Are you okay?" she asked as she threw the curtain back, afraid he had fallen.
Her eyes roamed his body leaning against the shower wall and she saw how hard his cock looked. "Uh, Colby?"
"Yes?"
"Uh, are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little weak I guess." He may have been playing it up some for her, but he liked the attention she was giving him.
"Why didn't you call for me and let me help you? I thought you hurt yourself."
"I can do it, I…" He grabbed his head, putting on a show. "Whoa."
"Fuck, Colby!" She jumped in the shower with him, still clothed. "Here, let me help you before you crack your skull."
He fought back a smile, pretending to be put out that he had to have help. "Dixie, I am not a baby, you don't have to bathe me."
"Shut up." She took the shampoo and poured some in her hands before lathering his hair. She always loved it when he let her wash his hair because it was so soft and fine. She was gentle, washing the blood and flakes of glass out of his locks. Colby relaxed and let her take care of him, silently relishing her touch.
She grabbed the washcloth and the body wash, working it in to a foam. She soaped up his back and down his butt and legs, making him shudder when she ran the cloth across his ass. She loved his perfect bubble butt and had to make herself stop staring. "Turn around." He turned to face her and she started to tenderly wash his chest and arms, taking care not to hurt him. He stared at the gown now soaked at sticking to her skin. He could see her nipples and her round breasts perfectly with the material becoming see-through. She gazed up and saw the lustful look in his brown eyes. She felt hot all over and tried to focus on the task at hand. She hesitated when she saw all that was left to clean was his manhood. She debated making him wash it himself, but decided it was no time to act shy; it wasn't as if she hadn't done this for him a dozen times before. He bit back a moan, her soft caress making it hard to think about anything else.
She heard his low sighs and couldn't deny it turned her on. Before she lost control, she spun him around so he could finish rinsing off. He acted as he lost his balance and she quickly grabbed him, wrapped her arms around his torso. "Hey, I've got you, baby."
He looked at her over his shoulder and smiled. "Thanks. I don't know what I would do without you."
She placed little kisses to his back and ran her hands up his chest, her hard nipples pressing against his skin. He decided now was the time to go for it. If ever she were going to give in to him, it would be right now. He suddenly turned and moved her into the corner, pinning her to the wall. He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a blistering hot kiss. She didn't have time to think before his hands were under her gown, stroking her clit. She tried to push against his chest, but he wasn't having it. Her head screamed it wasn't right, but her body screamed louder that it was. She was pleasantly surprised at this side of Colby and was tired of fighting how she felt. She liked the domination he was showing so she surrendered to him, letting him do whatever he wanted. She missed being intimate with him and didn't want to make him stop. Without removing himself from her lips, he gripped her thigh and placed it on the tub before slipping his cock inside her. She moaned into his mouth, his tongue silencing her.
He arched his back, slamming into her as hard as he could. She didn't protest or cry out in pain, so he realized she must like it. He wrapped her legs around him, pushing in as deep, hard and fast as he could. He held her hands against the wall, leveraging himself as he rocked her to the core. He pulled away from her lips and bit down on the soft flesh of her neck. Her eyes rolled back in pleasure, never having experienced Colby like this before. He grumbled in her ear, "so this is what you like, baby? You like being fucked hard and rough?"
She barely was able to speak. "Ye…yes, oh God, Colby, yes baby…"
He slid her up and down the wall, bouncing her on his dick. He felt he was going to come soon, but had to make her completely come undone first. He knew her erogenous zone was her breasts so he focused his attention there. He bit at her nipples, licking around the pebbled flesh before suckling hard. It was what finally sent her over the edge. She screamed his name, finding her release as he reached his, coming inside her.
After they were recovering from their high, they finally noticed the water was getting cold. Dixie started to shiver so Colby held her against his body, kissing the side of her head. "I love you." He whispered. "Let's get out."
He reached down and turned the water off before getting out of the shower. He offered her his hand as she stepped down on the mat. He pulled the saturated gown over her head and handed her a towel. He wrapped a towel around his waist and took another one to place over her shoulders. He rubbed his hands over the soft cloth, trying to warm her up. She laid her head against his chest, wanting his warmth. She finally moved away and tried to wring her hair out. He dried off and tried to dry his hair as well. He took her bathrobe and opened it for her to slip into, knowing she was still cold. "Come on," he told her, reaching for her hand and leading her back to the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and watched as he pulled some briefs on. He got out the blow drier and handed it to her.
She dried his hair for him, knowing it wouldn't take long because it was so fine. She giggled at him because it was so fluffy, like a cloud. He helped her dry hers and got a clean nightgown out for her to sleep in. "Dixie, you don't mind me staying in here do you?"
"No. Besides, how could I mind after we just had incredible sex? We do need to talk about that, Col."
"I know, babe. But can we not right now? It was awesome and perfect and I don't want to ruin it by talking about it or over-thinking it. You don't regret it do you?" He hoped she said no because he knew it would break his heart if she said yes.
"Of course I don't. You were amazing. You keep surprising me that is for sure. I never expected that from you."
"I told you, I will give you anything you want and be everything you need, mama." He got under the covers and turned off the lamp, inviting her to cuddle with him. She moved in beside him and leaned down to kiss his soft lips.
"I am starting to see that, baby." She snuggled close to him, resting her head on his shoulder and caressing his taut belly. She knew she should feel guilty having had sex with Jon just a few hours before, but she couldn't seem to. She still loved Colby too and wondered if things could be like that all the time with him. She said she wanted space to think, but her heart wouldn't let them leave without spending time with them. She had no idea who she was going to decide on, but she had to admit Colby had shown her something that she really liked and she had to really think if she was willing to throw away what they could have again for Jon. Jon seemed like he was more of a fit for her than Colby, but she worried that there would always be questions in their relationship because of how they got together. Colby was willing to forgive her and move past everything that happened. He had been more forgiving than she ever expected and realized his love went deeper than she ever had imagined. She decided to close her eyes, too much to think about for one night. She didn't want to ruin the afterglow of making love, lying there in Colby's arms, the man who had held her heart for so long.
A/N HIPAA- Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. It is a federal privacy regulation to protect patient's personal information. It governs all areas of healthcare and is very strict with serious consequences for violating it.